The Pomology Institute of Shanxi Agricultural University (SXAU) was founded in 1958 and is the largest institution for fruit tree research in China. Covering an area of approximately 606 hectares, including more than 33 hectares for construction and over 466 hectares dedicated to scientific experiments, the institute is a key player in advancing fruit tree research.
The institute employs 278 staff members and operates nine research departments. Its primary focus is on northern deciduous fruit trees, with research dedicated to the collection, preservation, identification, evaluation, and breeding of over 15 tree species, including apple, pear, grape, Chinese jujube, walnut, peach, cherry, apricot, plum, almond, raspberry, hawthorn, and strawberry. Additionally, the institute conducts research on high-quality, efficient cultivation methods, green disease and pest prevention, fruit tree biotechnology, gene improvement, fruit storage, and processing, as well as breeding improved varieties and quality detection of fruit and seedlings.
To date, the institute has collected and preserved more than 4,000 germplasms of northern fruit trees. It is involved in several national-level research projects, such as the establishment of two national germplasm resource centers for jujube and grape, and a national sharing platform for crop resources. Other initiatives include a key laboratory on gene resources and germplasm creation for crops on the Loess Plateau, a wine grape innovation center, and a breeding base for improved apple varieties funded by MARA. The institute also hosts several provincial-level research projects, including the Key Laboratory of Creation and Utilization of Fruit Tree Germplasms, Engineering and Technology Research Center for Grape and Wine, and the Shanxi Alliance for Jujube Industry.
The institute has strong international ties, cooperating with institutions in more than a dozen countries, including the United States, Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, and Armenia. It is a sister institute to several global research centers, including the Fruit Tree Research Institute in Rome, Italy, the Wine Grape Research Center in Armenia, and the Fruit Tree Research Institute in Pitesti, Romania. Through these partnerships, over 160 new fruit tree varieties have been introduced to China. In 2004, the institute was honored as the “National Demonstration Base for Foreign Intelligence Introduction” by the State Bureau of Foreign Affairs.
In terms of germplasm preservation, the institute has collected over 1,000 jujube germplasms, accounting for about 90% of all jujube germplasms in China. Its National Resource Center for Jujube Germplasms is the only national-level resource center for jujube germplasms globally. The institute also houses a grape resource center with more than 650 germplasms, including unique paired germplasms with the same genotype but different ploidies, as well as the largest collection of wine grapes and rootstock resources in China.
In breeding new varieties, the institute has made significant contributions, such as the SH series of dwarf rootstocks for apples, the Zaoheibao grape (the first Eurasian tetraploid grape variety in China), and Yuluxiang pear, widely recognized as China’s top pear variety.
The Pomology Institute is actively involved in the construction of Shanxi Agricultural Valley, working closely with the Management Committee to promote projects like “Nonggu Avenue” and “Nanshan Reservoir”. The institute is being developed into a modern demonstration base that integrates education, production, research, and utilization, showcasing the innovative and leading role of Shanxi Agricultural Valley.
In agricultural technology training and popular science, the institute has been recognized as one of the eleven training bases for modern agricultural technology by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture of Shanxi Province. It has received multiple accolades, including “National Demonstration Base for Agricultural Science Popularization on Youth” and “Training Base for New Professional Farmers”.
More information: https://www.sxau.edu.cn/en/Institutes/Institute_of_Pomology.htm.
